Updated, 1 June, 02.20
A draft resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide was introduced in the Federal Senate of Brazil on May 26. Senators Aloizio Nunes, Fereira Filio, and Jose Serra sponsored the resolution (No. 550/2015).
The draft resolution expresses its “solidarity with the Armenian people during the centenary of the campaign of extermination of its population,” and states that “the Senate recognizes the Armenian Genocide, whose centenary was commemorated on April 24, 2015.”
James Onnig Tamdjian, representative of the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Brazil, said the resolution “has great support from Senators, and hopefully in the near future the Brazilian Senate will vote for this proposal, which will be historic for all Armenians and their descendants in Brazil.” Tamdjian also expressed his hope that “the Senate would continue its support to formalize the decision soon.”
“To honor the victims and recognize the contribution of the thousands of Brazilians—descendants of Armenian refugees—to the economic, social, and cultural formation of Brazil, we emphasize that no genocide must be forgotten so that it does not happen again,” reads the text.
The draft highlights that the Genocide was rooted in the “need for a racial cleansing, to make Turkey—then multiracial—a uniformly Turkish nation.” In addition, it denounces the “systematic denial, pressure, and intimidation against those who try to reconstruct historical events.”
“The policy of extermination is so far denied by the Turkish government,” reads the draft resolution, and cites the cases of recognition from a growing number of countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay, and Venezuela in Latin America, as well as European countries, the European Parliament and, more recently, Germany and Pope Francis.
“It is estimated that at least 100,000 descendants of Armenians live in Brazil, mostly in Sao Paulo. They are Brazilians whose ancestors had to leave their homeland to escape the genocide. In Brazilian lands they could restart their lives, build families and contribute to the economic, social and cultural development of our country,” reads the resolution.
The Brazilian government has not yet recognized the Armenian Genocide, although the legislatures of Ceará and Parana did. “In 2015, the State of São Paulo instituted April 24 as the Day of Recognition and Remembrance of Victims of the Genocide of the Armenian people,” concludes the resolution.
From ANI Center
Two days agocthe Armenian media reported that Brazil’s Federal Senate unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
That is not true.
It is shameful that Armenia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandian issued a statement regarding the resolution on May 29. “The irrevocable process of international recognition of the fact of the Armenian Genocide is underway. Armenia welcomes the Resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide adopted by the Federal Senate of the Federative Republic of Brazil. With the adoption of this Resolution Brazil made a significant step in support of international community’s efforts in the prevention of acts of genocide and new crimes against humanity.” (Statement of Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Federal Senate of Brazil, http://www.mfa.am/en/interviews/item/2015/05/29/statement_minister/).
Tigran Balayan, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry spokesman wrote in his Facebook page quoting Brasilian Cenator Aloysio Nunes Ferreira Facebook post on “Brasil Senate’s Recognition of the#ArmenianGenocide“; “On the last day of April 24, commemorated the centenary of the campaign of extermination of the Armenian people in 1915, during World War I. In dozens of cities in the Ottoman Turkish Empire, entire families were bound and thrown alive into rivers, with one of his gunned down members, leading all other to drowning. It is estimated that at least 1.5 million Armenians were murdered. José Serra and I presented the solidarity motion and it passed”.
President Serzh Sargsyan’s Chief of Staff Vigen Sargsyan on May 29 wrote on his Facebook page: “Brazil became the 24th country to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide. I remember and demand.” (https://www.facebook.com/vigen.sargsyan.94?fref=ts).
The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute’s web page put an information on the topic in Armenian, Russian and French. The French version of the statement read;
“Le 27 Mai, le Sénat fédéral brésilien a voté à l’unanimité la résolution n° 550/2015 présentée par les sénateurs Aloizio Nounes Fereira Filyoy et José Sera portant sur la reconnaissance officielle du génocide des Arméniens. Le service de presse du ministère brésilien des Affaires étrangères qui a confirmé ce vote du Sénat présente cette résolution qui affirme « le Sénat fédéral reconnaît le génocide des Arméniens dont le 100ème anniversaire fut commémoré le 24 avril. La mémoire des victimes du génocide est commémorée par les milliers d’enfants des réfugiés du génocide installés au Brésil qui contribuent aujourd’hui au développement de l’économie, de la culture et du domaine social. Nous affirmons qu’aucun génocide ne doit être oublié afin qu’il ne se répète pas». Ainsi le Brésil a fait un pas important en faveur des efforts pour la prévention de nouveaux crimes contre les l’humanité”.
Tatul Hakobyan
